A three-tier security setup has been established in preparation for the vote counting of the April 9 bypoll in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Tripura State Rifles, and state Police personnel will be deployed for security at the counting center. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita have been enforced within a 100-meter radius of the center to ensure a peaceful counting process.
District officials have set up 14 counting tables at the district headquarters for the 55 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the bypoll. The votes recorded will be counted in four phases to maintain efficiency. The District Magistrate has overseen multiple meetings to ensure the counting process is secure and well-organized.
Around 80% of the total 46,142 voters, including a significant number of women, cast their votes in the bypoll held on April 9. The bypoll was necessitated by the passing of the sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen. The constituency has historically been dominated by either the Congress or the BJP, with a multi-cornered contest making the current electoral battle highly competitive.
Key candidates in the bypoll include Jahar Chakraborti of the BJP, Chayan Bhattacharjee of the Congress, and Amitabha Datta representing the CPI-M-led Left Front. The contest has been further intensified by candidates from smaller parties and an Independent candidate, reflecting the diverse political landscape in the region.
